Sean Fleming is trying to live down being decked by diminutive return specialist Ezra Landry.

The Edmonton Eskimos kicker was levelled by Landry during Monday's 39-19 win over the Montreal Alouettes and is still nursing a sore back.

The five-foot-three, 160-pound Landry laid Fleming out in front of the Esks bench and forced head coach Tom Higgins to press backup Maha Atogwe into service for one punt.

"He's a very valuable member of our football team," said Higgins. "He's going to continue to take the ribbing that he got hurt by a midget or a very small person."

Fleming has now seen the videotape of the collision and says he, too, is surprised by the outcome of the encounter with Landry.

"I'm getting treatment on it and getting massages just to work it out," Fleming said. "Everything seems fine. I kicked well today. Tomorrow I'm sure it will be better than it was."

Fleming took Landry's helmet in the small of the back after attempting to submarine the Als' returner who was running back a kickoff just before halftime.

A heat pack, treatment at halftime and medication allowed the 34-year-old to finish Monday's tilt.

Had he been unable to finish, Atogwe would have handled the punting and slotback Terry Vaughn would have picked up the place-kicking duties.

"It was pretty tough; I didn't think I would be able to make it," said Fleming, adding the pain was greatest for about 25 minutes immediately after the collision. "I couldn't even lean over. But with some good medication and a heat pack, I was able to make it through."

A BEAUTIFUL NOISE

The Taylor Field crowd can be a boisterous lot. The Green and Gold players and coaches know that.

With second spot on the line in the CFL Western Division on the line Sunday afternoon, the defending Grey Cup champs are sparing no expense when it comes to preparing for their crucial tilt against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

In an effort to simulate the din created by the Roughrider fans, the Esks had the portable generator and sound system on the sidelines of the practice field with the volume cranked way up yesterday.

"It's new for us but it's not really new," explained Esks offensive coordinator Danny Maciocia. "Everybody down south is using it. The NCAA. The NFL. They're using it to simulate a hostile environment."

The noise being pushed through the twin speakers sounded more like that of a revving jet engine on takeoff or a massive steam purge.

LATE HITS: Esks receiver Scott Cloman was playing the part of Travis Moore on the scout team offence yesterday, while running back Reggie White doubled as the Riders' Corey Holmes.